Adventures in sewing - testing out the machine

Good news!!! My first purchase on eBay works...well...it sews...forward. I'm working on the whole not-sewing-backward issue. Sewing backward isn't ABSOLUTELY necessary, but it's darn nice since if you can sew backward, you don't have to pull out stitches and tie knots in the thread. Sigh. We'll see what happens. Adjusting the tension was a learning experience too. Who knew you could do that? Apparently my machine has some tension issues, but my coworker, Trish, managed to figure it out. There are sooooo many things that can be adjusted, tightened, loosened, nudged, etc. Wow. I have some seriously learning ahead of me.

Here are some stitches:

Here's some fabric (for who knows what):

Still no napkins. I'm working on the stitches first and figuring out how to get everything threaded properly (and it didn't help that I felt sick yesterday and woke up really sick today).

Random Lizzy

Fate

From The Daily Love:

"Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, 'This is what I need.' It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment-not discouragement-you will find the strength there. Any disaster you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow. Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures, followed by wreckage, were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You'll see this is really true. Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes." - Joseph Campbell

2010 Feel-Good Manifesto

From Apartment Therapy:

Pretty in purple

My new glasses have arrived!!! (Actually they arrived a few weeks ago, but no one bothered to let me know. Don't get me started on that.) The sides are funky. They are purple steel.

I like them lots.

Being alone...beautiful

The kindness of strangers

Every morning on my way to work I walk past the City Market and say hello to the man who shines shoes. Sometimes he wears a tan linen suit and shiny red shoes - that outfit makes me smile. We've never had any long detailed conversations. And I didn't know his name...until today.

I walked past him this morning and he said he had something for me. My guard immediately went up. He handed me a handwritten note and I'm sure I gave him a look that said something along the lines of "Oh no. What is this? Do I need to get out my mace?". He assured me that it was a good note. I thanked him and walked away. Once I rounded the corner, I opened it and read the following:

Good Morning:

I would like for you to know that you are the start of my mornings.

You are so full of spirit, a bright friendly smile and just an over all good disposition.

You have a very good day.

Sincerely, and Most Respectfully,

Chris

Talk about a nice surprise! I assumed the worst and received the best. It made my day. This goes to show you that little things in life - like saying hello and smiling at someone on the sidewalk - can make a difference in someone's day.

Thanks, Chris, for bringing some extra joy to my day.